Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/86

 80 Southern Historical Society Papers.

flight and confusion. Colonel Blythe's regiment and my own num- bered, probably, 1,000 together, making in all about 5,000 Confed- erates on the ground during the whole day.

General McClernand puts down the Federal force at 3,500 strong, "the enemy double that number." His command consisted of three Illinois regiments; two companies of cavalry, and one battery of six pieces. He gives the exact number in each command, making a total of 2,072. It is probable that his figures are about correct. Then there was Colonel Dougherty's command of two regiments, which would make out the 3,500. So, when the battle opened, there were 3,500 Federals, with immense advantages in position, against 2,500 Confederates. The Confederates were at first beaten. Then three more regiments, consisting of, say, 1,500 men, were^entas reinforce- ments, and the Federals were in turn beaten and driven toward their boats. Finally, two more regiments were sent over to complete the rout.

With regard to the Confederate loss, there is no difficulty in ar- riving at a just estimate, as we maintained possession of the ground.

General Polk puts down our loss at 105 killed, 419 wounded and missing, of whom 562 were of his own division and Colonel Tappan's regiment.

With regard to the enemy's loss, there is a wide diversity of state- ment. General Grant, in his official report, puts down his loss on the field at 85 killed, 301 wounded and 99 missing. As to the loss on the boats, he says : "Notwithstanding the crowded state of our transports, the only loss we sustained from the enemy's fire upon them was three men wounded, one of whom belonged to the boats." He does not estimate the Confederate strength or loss.

General McClernand puts down the Federal loss at about 300 in killed, wounded and missing.

Brigade Surgeon and Medical Director J. H. Brinton gives the total of killed in the five regiments, cavalry and artillery at 80 and the wounded at 322. He puts the loss of the Seventh Iowa at 26 killed and 93 wounded. But Colonel J. G. Lauman, commanding this regiment, puts down his loss in his official report at : " Killed, 51; died of wounds, 3; missing, 10; prisoners, 39; wounded, 124. Total, 227."

Our reports, on the other hand, tell quite another story.

General Polk (not claiming accurate information) estimates the enemy's loss at 1,500, fourteen-fifteenths of which he thinks must have been killed, wounded and drowned. He says that after making